Walking in the Sudetes Mountains - Czech Republic, Germany and Poland

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Three countries, three national parks, three mountain ranges.

A large part of this trekking tour takes place in the Sudetes Mountains. The Sudetes Mountains run for more than 250km: they range from the Elba Valley in Germany, along Czech-Polish border, and to the Moravian Gate - a depression, where the Odra River crosses the border of Poland, marking the start of the Carpathian Mountains. Sudetes don't offer much alpine scenery. They were formed earlier than Alps and Carpathians; they are lower and in different shape. The most characteristic mountain areas of the Sudetes are the Table Mountains - gigantic sandstone slabs rising some 250 meters over the surrounding valleys. Millions of years of erosion have created spectacular rock formations. You will see some of these formations called rock towns. You will also hike through the most interesting parts of Karkonosze, the highest part of the Sudetes. This tour will give you the opportunity to experience 3 countries - Czech Republic, Germany and Poland and their different cultures, different local dishes and beautiful places.

Tour highlights:
♦ Praque - one of the most beautiful capitals in Europe
♦ Faboulous rock cities in Bohemian Switzerland and Adrspach
♦ The fortress in Königstein - one of the largest hilltop fortifications in Europe

Itinerary:

Day 1. Prague
Arrival in Prague, time for sightseeing on your own. Overnight in a hotel in the city center.

Day 2. Prague - Decin
You will spend the morning in Prague. In the afternoon - train to Decin (about 1,5 h) in the north-western part of the Czech Republic. Decin is located in the foothills of Bohemian Switzerland by the river of Elba. The Decin castle is the most interesting attraction in the town. You will spend the next 3 nights in Decin.

Day 3. Decin - Bohemian Switzerland National Park - Decin
Short transfer (40 min.) with public transport to Hrensko on Czech-German border. You enter the National Park of Bohemian Switzerland (Ceskosaske Svycarsko). It is a land of sandstones and nearly the whole area of the park is covered by well-preserved primeval forests. You start hiking the Pravcicka Gate. This sandstone gate is a flagship point of the park. From there you can admire the deep gorge of Elba River. You walk down to the valley of Kamenice River and return to Hrensko. There are waterfalls and tunnels, you cover a few stretches of the trail with a boat. Return to Decin with local transport.Walking: 12-17 km (depending on the route)

Day 4. Decin - Saxon Switzerland National Park - Decin
You use local transport to cross the German border and reach the city of Königstein (ab. 60 min). The aim is one of the largest hilltop castles in Europe, rising 240 m above the Elba River. Inside the fortress you can admire the second deepest well in Europe (150 m!). After exploring the castle you continue hiking in the Saxon Switzerland NP. Return to Decin for overnight.Walking: 5-20 km (depending on the route)Option: You can spend the day visiting Dresden

Day 5. Decin - Szklarska Poreba
You spend the morning on your own in Decin and the surroundings. In the afternoon train to Szklarska Poreba (ab. 3 h 30 min) - a popular SPA resort at the foothills of Karkonosze Mountains, where you will spend the next 2 nights.

Day 6. Karkonosze National Park
Karkonosze (Giant Mountains) are the highest mountain range in Sudetes. The main ridge of the mountains runs from east to west and forms the border between Poland and the Czech Republic. Its highest peak, Sněžka-Śnieżka, is the highest peak of the Czech Republic. Gigant Karkonosze-Wall is characterised with an original shape, steep sides and extensive flat peak areas. Granite rocks shaped like mushrooms or maces can also be found on the mountainsides. It is also a kingdom of wild animals. The symbol of the park is a mouflon. The hiking trail gives you the opportunity to explore the most important attractions of the Karkonosze - the waterfall of Kamieńczyk, few rocky formations, postglacial kettles and ponds, vast meadows etc. Walking: 19 km, 6 h (you can shorten the route by using the lift chair to Szrenica Peak, 13 km, 4 h)

Day 7. Szklarska Poreba - Adrspach - Prague
In the morning you leave Karkonosze and go by bus to Adrspach (1 h 30 min), where you explore the most impressive rock town in the Czech Republic. There are many incredible shapes of sandstone rocks, which have their own names - Sugarhead, Twins, Lovers, Governor, Chamber of elefants, Teeth, Devil's Car, etc. After you leave the rock city you take a public bus to Trutnov (15 min) and then a train to Prague (3 h), where you will spend the last night.Walking: 5,5 km, 2-3 h

Day 8. Departure
The tour ends after breakfast. Possibility to extend your stay with additional days in Prague

The price includes: ► accommodation in standart hotels (double occupancy) and pensions with breakfast ► 4 lunch packs (day 3, 4, 6 and 7) ►dinners on days 2 - 6 ► public bus Szklarska Poreba-Adrspach on day 7 and trains Prague-Decin on day 2, Decin-Szklarska Poreba on day 5 and Trutnov-Prague on day 7 ► roadbook and maps

The price does not include: ►flight tickets ►drinks and meals not mentioned in the program ►transfer from/to the airport and other transfers not mentioned as included ► entrance fees ► insurance ►personal expences

Collecting experience in handling active holidays since its establishment in 1989, Penguin Travel has become a leading provider in the fields of hiking, cycling, horseriding and birdwatching tours (for more information please visit our corporate website at http://www.penguin.dk). The company specializes in offering tailor-made solutions and aims to deliver value for money products by combining professional approach with in-depth local knowledge and flexibility.

Apart from offices in Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Russia and Bulgaria, Penguin Travel has developed a wide network of experienced suppliers in order to ensure the quality, safety and cost-effectiveness of our tour programmes. Our staff unifies young and very active people with university degrees in biology, geography, tourism etc. who have walked most of the routes and know them in details.

What you browse now is the company's specialized website for self-guided tours, which are some of our main activities. Unlike other agencies we do offer also tours that have been designed and prepared directly by ourselves (e.g. the trips in Bulgaria and Turkey) as we believe that this is the way to diversify the global market rather than only offering the most popular walking holidays (which we can't avoid on the other hand).

We hope you will enjoy traveling with us and we all look forward to reading from you soon.